for the better.

Read Article before reading the post: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/jul/26/india-sex-workers-female-empowerment

Indian Sex Workers Represent Women Empowerment?

That's a bit of a bold statement, don't you think?

Sure, some women may think so but tying 'having freedom to do what you want' and 'being empowered' through sex work seems like a bit of a push to me.

The tag line of the article says "society should start treating women who work in the industry with respect instead of disgust." Clearly the society that they are talking about is the society where they live in that thinks it's OK to have a district dedicated to sex work and viewing these women as nothing but objects - that's the main problem to tackle - educating those people not to 'treat prostitutes with respect' but to 'treat WOMEN with respect.'

Opposite of prostitution = marriage? and since marriage doesn't give women freedom, prostitution is the one that does? What about all the other possible means of obtaining women's freedom and power? Is marriage really the other option of not being a prostitute?

The main problem of prostitution and sex work is not the issue of freedom from marriage and feeling empowered through not being tied to a husband. The problem is that these women feel like the only escape route from not being respected from their husbands is to be a prostitute. AND that it limits women from seeing other opportunities and giving them other options to really empower them. For example, education.

This mindset is what cause this long chains of sexual workers through generations and generations. As the documentary 'Half the Sky' points out, it desensitizes the women and makes them think that this is the only route/it is perfectly fine for them to make their own daughters work in the industry, giving the young girls no other choice but to become what their mother, grandmother and aunts have become.

I am all for design and art installations that not only is pleasing to the eyes but is practical and enhances people's lives. This particular installation, 21 Balançoires, which means 21 swings is pleasing to the eyes, melodic to the ears and brings out the inner child in people and allows everyone to pause and escape their life for a brief moment.

I love documentaries because it opens my eyes to so many things - especially documentaries of people, which show me life I can never imagine being stuck in my own bubble. Documentaries introduce me to people like Augustin who inspire and motivate me.

Everything is indeed incredible and we tend to refuse to believe so. And happiness and fulfillment has nothing to do with how much money you make but rather accomplishing what you deeply desire.

“Even though I live in a house full of water, I have been grateful fighting for it (the helicopter).” - Agustin, "The Helicopter Man"

"A book is made from a tree. It is an assemblage of flat, flexible parts (still called leaves) imprinted with dark pigmented squiggles. One glance at it and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, the author is speaking, clearly and silently, inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people, citizens of distant epochs, who never knew one another. Books break the shackles of time, proof that humans can work magic." - Carl Sagan

I feel that too many times, the media, specifically western, portray garment factories = sweatshops = bad. Indicating that all garment factories that mass produce clothes for big brands are wrong/evil. A lot of times it's not the brands - it's the owners of the factories and brands are simply just buyers (as the article notes). And therefore, not all garment factories are evil. Countries like Cambodia actually have really strict rules regarding the minimum wage resulting in a lot of factories actually going out of business - which is why most are produced in China and Vietnam (check your labels next time you are shopping).

Need some inspiration to go outside and be active? Check out this video by Juan Rayos of the Longboard Girls Crew. It's one of the four-video series. Need to get a longboard - STAT. 

Monday Inspiration: Never, Ever Give Up.

From YouTube:

Arthur Boorman was a disabled veteran of the Gulf War for 15 years, and was told by his doctors that he would never be able to walk on his own, ever again. He stumbled upon an article about Diamond Dallas Page doing Yoga and decided to give it a try -- he couldn't do traditional, higher impact exercise, so he tried DDP YOGA and sent an email to Dallas telling him his story. Dallas was so moved by his story, he began emailing and speaking on the phone with Arthur throughout his journey - he encouraged Arthur to keep going and to believe that anything was possible. Even though doctors told him walking would never happen, Arthur was persistent. He fell many times, but kept going. Arthur was getting stronger rapidly, and he was losing weight at an incredible rate! Because of DDP's specialized workout, he gained tremendous balance and flexibility -- which gave him hope that maybe someday, he'd be able to walk again. His story is proof, that we cannot place limits on what we are capable of doing, because we often do not know our own potential. Niether Arthur, nor Dallas knew what he would go on to accomplish, but this video speaks for itself. In less than a year, Arthur completely transformed his life. If only he had known what he was capable of, 15 years earlier. Do not waste any time thinking you are stuck - you can take control over your life, and change it faster than you might think. Hopefully this story can inspire you to follow your dreams - whatever they may be.

The Last Supper. 

What would be your final meal?

"My long term hopes of the project are that we stop having capital punishments and that I stop painting plates."

Yes, this still happens today. It's called Modern Day Slavery.

"Over 20,000 Cambodians are trafficked to Thailand every year and forced into modern-day slavery. The poor and the disabled are particularly vulnerable to being exploited. This is the true story of one family's harrowing experience."

May 12th is World #FairTrade Day. Check out this event in Boston!

Who? Fair Trade Scavenger Hunt is hosted by Fair Trade Boston in collaboration with SCVNGR, sponsors and supporters include Ben & Jerry’s Boston, Equal Exchange, Ten Thousand Villages, Haley House, City Feed & Supply, and Autonomy Project.

What? A scavenger hunt using the SCVNGR app. Participants sign up via the Eventbrite page to receive instructions and download the SCVNGR app on their phones where the event will go live on the day of. There are 10 locations where participants visit to answer questions, take photos and receive prizes. Once completed, individuals who with the highest number of points will receive grand prizes from the sponsors.

Where? The event is held throughout Boston, Cambridge and Brookline (the Greater Boston area) and held in individual sponsors’ shops. Immediately following the end of the Scavenger Hunt, there will be an after party at the Equal Exchange Cafe (226 Causeway Street, Boston).

When? World Fair Trade day, May 12th, 2012. 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. (Scavenger Hunt) & 3 p.m. (After party)

Why? It’s an amazing way to learn about Fair Trade and some of the products that are sold in Boston. The event introduces participants to some of the stores in the Boston area that allows them to learn about the impact that Fair Trade has on farmers and their families in developing countries. It’s also a fun event to explore the city, have fun with friends, mingle and win amazing prizes.

It’ll be a fun event and a great way to explore Boston on a Saturday! Also, it’s just in time for Mother’s Day (May 13th) so why not find out about these awesome Fair Trade stores in Boston and get your mother  (or win her) a gorgeous gift? :)

Nike's FuelBand commercial by Casey Neistat and his friend Max Joseph. Inspires you to really travel the world and #MakeItCount. 

Apparently Nike had no idea what Casey had in store for the third video of the series but needless to say, it worked.

Angkor... What Replica? There will always be only one Angkor Wat and it's in #Cambodia.

I just came across an article by Camboguide that talked about an Angkor Wat replica being built in India. According to the article, "officials in eastern India announced their plan to build a replica of Cambodia's spellbinding 12th-century temple, Angkor Wat, on the banks of the Ganges in the state of Bihar."

I don't know what you think but I personally think this is silly. Cambodian officials are worried that actual tourist traffic will decrease in Cambodia because of this but I think a replica will always be just a replica. Just because they are building this doesn't mean that Angkor Wat's value decreases in any way.

Angkor Wat is appreciated for not just its beautiful structure but more valued because of the history and the time that comes with it - because of the story that it tells. There is no way human can make the same 'effects' nature has made on the building over centuries, shaping it into what it is today. Yes, it may increase tourism traffic to India but the level of appreciation will be different. After-all, it's a completely different awe and inspiration having a group of people and machines building something that looks like Angkor Wat versus people in the 12th century crafting the building solely by hand. Angkor Wat is beautiful because of what it is and this brand new 'biggest Hindu temple' should not devalue the name of Angkor Wat.

"The Indian Angkor will have five storeys and five "shikhars" or pinnacles, like the Cambodian original. It is estimated that work on the main structure, which will sit on a 16ha site in Vaishali district, will take up to five years, while completing the project could take a decade." Apparently it will cost about $25 million dollars. Silly effort.

Not opposed to them building a new temple but don't label it as an 'Angkor Wat Replica' and have the word Angkor Wat in the name. Whatever happens, Angkor Wat will be Angkor Wat and Virat Angkor Wat Ram Mandir will be Virat Angkor Wat Ram Mandir NOT Angkor Wat. (I said Angkor Wat one too many times there.)

Check out the story on BBC and The Guardian. In about ten years, I assume the conversation will be "I'm going to visit Angkor Wat!" "Oh, which one?"